From The Crucible (by Pastor Linda Pugsley)

Ever hear someone say, “Oh, God’s too busy, I don’t want to bother Him with this small request.”? Wha-a-a-a-t? I guess you didn’t get the memo…the Gospel is supposed to be good news! Read the New Testament for crying out loud! It is full to the brim of examples of God’s desire and delight in being intimately involved in every detail of our lives. Remember the “even the very hairs of your head are all numbered” thing?

Yet, even with that hyperbole, most of us broken and hurt little critters down here waddling around on planet earth find it very difficult to grasp the idea of a God that has such a personal interest in each and every one of His people. We think we “bother” God when we ask for help finding a job, or choosing a school or fixing a car. Hey, this is a big God! Look at some of the prayers that were in the Bible: a woman desperately wanted to have a baby, a widow woman asked for some cooking oil, yeah…some stupid oil; others prayed for victory in battle, or relief from drought or safe travels, prosperity in their endeavors, healing, etc. Heck, the Lord’s Prayer itself includes asking for “daily bread”.

So, I think we can, with a fair amount of confidence, stop worrying if we’re going to “bother” God, either with what we consider big or small problems. Remember now, prayer is not just asking for stuff. Prayer is your primary way of basking in God’s presence. Talk to Him and then shut up long enough to listen to Him. You’ll be amazed at just how “two-way” this prayer thing is.

Jesus tells us that nothing is too trivial; He relishes everything about you and wants to be there with you, helping you through “yourself”; your thoughts, motives, moods, feeling, desires…He is interested in it all…because He’s interested in you! Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold!

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